Is it worth it?

[Catalin]

Cuemakers! I need your advice.

I have a custom cue made by a more basic maker, which has been my main playing cue for almost 4 years. My mandate for the cue maker was 30'' butt + 30" shaft, 19 - 19.5oz weight, 0.840" at the joint, 3/8x10 SS pin. The cue butt is made of one piece of bocote (not cored), juma butt cap and joint collar, irish linen grip. The butt cap is drilled about 4" deep and threaded 3/8x16 for a weight bolt that I am not using because it's already pretty heavy. Instead I had a custom extension made that uses the same thread.

There are a few things I don't like about my cue:
- the cue came in at 19.4 oz but the maker "cheated" with a very light shaft (3.3oz). With an average aftermarket shaft, the weight is closer to 20 oz which is too heavy for my preference, especially that I'm using it with a Revo so a lot of energy transfer
- the joint diameter is only 0.831" instead of 0.840" which is noticeable
- I don't like how the Irish linen feels and I prefer leather
- the finish is dinged in 2-3 places and doesn't seem high quality. The wood itself appears unaffected

I am torn between upgrading the existing butt or buying a Mezz/Exceed cue. The advantage of the Mezz would be the large ecosystem of matching shafts, extensions, adjustable weight. On the other hand my cue butt has the most beautiful bocote wood I have seen in person and being one-piece, it's as solid and simple as they get. I know warping is a concern but if it hasn't happened in 4 years I'm hoping it won't.

I am considering the following 3 options :

1. Keep the cue as-is as my first custom cue, maybe use from time to time. Buy a Mezz as main playing cue.
2. Change to leather wrap, refinish and drill the butt more to make it lighter.
2. Same as option 2 above and in addition cut 1" from the joint, making it standard length and the correct joint diameter. It wouldn't need retapering, I'm measuring 0.839 1" below the joint.

I don't have a good sense of the cost and difficulty of these options, which is why I'm turning to you for advice.

 

[Thunder Thighs]

There are a few things I don't like about my cue:
- the cue came in at 19.4 oz but the maker cheated with a very light shaft (3.3oz). With an average aftermarket shaft, the weight is closer to 20 oz which is too heavy for my preference, especially that I'm using it with a Revo.
- the joint diameter is only 0.831" instead of 0.840" which is noticeable
- I don't like how the Irish linen feels and I prefer leather
- the finish is dinged in 2-3 places, I think it wasn't the highest quality. The wood itself seems unaffected

• The cuemaker didn't cheat with a 3.3oz shaft. Unless you specified that you wanted a heavier one.
• You say that you use a Revo. What's the weight of your Revo? I've seen several at 3.5oz.
• On the joint diameter, I agree with you. You should have received. 840 if that's what you 9rdered.
• On the wrap. If you like leather, replace the linen.
• On the finish. Any finish will ding.

 

[Catalin]

I used "cheated" lightly but having a too light shaft is not good in situations where you need to choke the grip. My Revo is close to 4oz. However that's not what's important now as I need some advice regarding the options I listed.

 

[kling&allen]

It's none of my business, and that is a pretty peice of wood, but investing more in that cue would make me grumpy given I would be paying double for what I wanted in the first place.

 

[boogieman]

To refinish the finish a local cue maker charged me $150. It was one he built, re-sprayed and polished to look like a show piece. This included refinishing the shaft.

If you're not happy with it it might just be better to get a different cue and keep this for sentimental value or as a break stick with a hard tip if you don't have one. I'm not a cue maker but it's usually not super cheap to do what you're wanting done, especially done right. The only way to know would be to ask the cue maker that you plan on having do the work.

 

[DDiabolico]

All options are viable but the costs may differ greatly, depending on the cuemaker. Depends on what you want exactly. If you want the joint to have the right diameter, let a cuemaker shorten the butt and install a new pin. If you want a leather wrap, just get it changed. I think the cost would range from about $150 (just a refinish) to maybe $600 for the complete package (new pin, wrap, refinish).

 

[GoldCrown]

It's none of my business, and that is a pretty peice of wood, but investing more in that cue would make me grumpy given I would be paying double for what I wanted in the first place.

Been there. Had a Red Dufferin house cue converted. I got an expensive schlock job. Sent it to different maker(ProficientBilliards) to re-do and it's a beauty. Close to $400 into a $35 cue. ........(have to admit I love it). It is using the original front end(shaft). Plays great.